Miscellaneous

🍴 Bret Thorn, a Colorado native, serves as Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation's Restaurant News since 1999, sharing expertise in culinary trends. He has a BA in History from Tufts University and studied at Le Cordon Bleu, Paris. Thorn's career highlights include writing for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and working for ABC News in 1989. Awarded the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award, he resides in Brooklyn, N.Y., and contributes to major publications.

📈 Digital MGA Ripe, in 2025, acquired Schofields Limited, a holiday homes insurance specialist, marking Ripe's first entry into this market. Schofields, established in 1984 in Bolton, serves over 10,000 policyholders and recently won a Gold Trusted Service Award. The Schofield family continues to lead, with Keith Schofield as a consultant. Ripe aims to expand Schofields' growth using its technology and marketing expertise.

📑 Joanna Fantozzi, a Senior Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News, brings over 7 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry. She joined Informa's Restaurants and Food Group in October 2018 and has held roles including Senior Editor since August 2021. Joanna holds a bachelor's from The College of New Jersey and a master’s from CUNY. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Forbes, and Vice, focusing on industry news and cultural issues.

🍴 Chicago led with a 3% transaction increase in Q3 2025, while Denver and D.C. saw declines of -4% and -5%, respectively. Single-diner reservations rose by 22%, and breakfast bookings at 9 a.m. increased by 19%. The peak reservation time remains 6 p.m. Tipping rates rebounded slightly to 19.2% from a seven-year low of 19.1% in Q2 2025, down from a 19.8% peak in 2021.

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor for Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999, is known for his expertise in food trends and French cuisine. Educated at Tufts University and Le Cordon Bleu, he has written for the New York Sun (2005-2008) and Asia Times (1995-1997). Winner of the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award, he also served as IFEC president in 2005. Thorn resides in Brooklyn, NY, and hosts "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" podcast.

🍖 Ryan discussed Chick-fil-A's culture emphasizing service and excellence over nearly 15 years. The company focuses on people, not just chicken. Leadership drives a giving culture with high expectations. In 2017, Ryan led a team to develop a drive-thru consulting methodology across approximately 2,000 restaurants. Despite lacking direct experience, they had 90-120 days to learn industry practices, which proved crucial when COVID-19 prompted a shift to 99% drive-thru operations by 2020.

🌼 In the 1960s or 1970s, a century-old farmhouse underwent modernization, hiding its original charm. After removing faux paneling and vinyl siding, original features like floors, beams, and brick were restored. Located at Morning Glory Farm, named for the abundant wildflowers and memorable sunrises, this project saw contributions from the author's brothers and a mural sketch by the author, who was simultaneously working on Live Oak Lake in Texas.

📈 France’s DSNA, in collaboration with SITA, trialed real-time weather tools at Reims ACC during summer 2025. Over 21 days between July and October 2025, they used eWAS and Mission Watch, saving up to 105,000 minutes of delays (65% reduction) and enabling 2,700 extra flights. This resulted in €2.02 million additional revenue. No safety incidents were reported. The trial emphasized precise weather handling and shared data for improved air traffic management.

✈️ Emirates Airways is retrofitting 60 A380s and 51 Boeing 777s by August 2026, introducing new cabins and a lounge. Collaborating with Airbus, Panasonic, and others, Emirates enhances comfort and entertainment. Business Class gets upgraded seating with wireless charging and 4K entertainment. Premium Economy features advanced seating, while Economy introduces lightweight seats. The Astrova inflight system offers 4K OLED displays and Spatial Audio. Starlink connectivity will be installed across the fleet, enriching the passenger experience.